Saturday, June 24, 2006

Brig. Gen. Vincent K. Brooks has been selected to become the deputy commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas.The Army announced April 3 that Brig. Gen. Anthony Cucolo, who recently oversaw the Pentagon report on Iraqi decision making during Operation Iraqi Freedom, including the revelation that Russian officials may have supplied information on U.S. troop movements to Iraq, has been named to succeed Army public affairs chief Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks. Brooks, who has led the Army's public affairs operations since Dec. 2004, will become deputy commander of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas.

Cucolo is director of the Joint Center for Operational Analysis-Lessons Learned at the U.S. Joint Forces Command in Suffolk, Va.

His most recent encounter with reporters came March 24 when he briefed Pentagon journalists about the "Iraq Perspective Project," a study by the operational analysis center into the views of Iraq's leaders and military in the months leading up to the March 2003 invasion of Iraq and the command influences on the Iraqi military during the "major combat phase."

Thursday, June 15, 2006

We should all take a look at what this man has done and congratulate him, then emulate him--as much as we can.I never thought I'd see the day--Operation Push refunded a $40,000 corporate donation. Donations are used to help fund Operation Push and their huge yearly convention so money is important to their survival. However, a sacrifice was made and they put principles before payments.

Sunday, June 11, 2006

A just released report by the Education Trust states that by the end of high school, Latino and African-American 17-year-old students, on average, have been taught to the same level as White 13-year-old students.

Students in high-poverty and high minority schools also are shortchanged when it comes to getting teachers with a strong background in the subjects they are teaching.

Classes in high-poverty and high minority secondary schools are more likelyto be taught by out-of-field teacher--those without a major or minor in the subject they teach.

The report, "Teaching Inequality: How Poor and Minority Students Are Shortchanged on Teacher Quality," comes as states prepare their plans to ensure that low-income students and students of color receive their fair share of experienced, qualified teachers.

Those equity plans must be delivered to the U.S. Secretary of Education by July 7 -- and mark the first time that the federal government has demanded that states confront and fix the unfair distribution of teacher talent in their states.

The report also points out that school districts, not teacher unions, are responsible for balancing competing interests among stakeholders.It would appear that pleasing powerful constituents has sometimes forced equity to take a back seat.

The simple truth is that public education cannot fulfill its mission if students growing up inpoverty, students of color and low-performing students continue to be disproportionately taught byinexperienced, under-qualified teachers.

The report goes on to say that these manifestly unequal opportunities make a mockery of our commitment to equal opportunityand undermine genuine social mobility. What we have is a caste system of public education thatmetes out educational opportunity based on wealth and privilege, rather than on student or community needs.Young people learn as much or more by watching what adults do as they learn from any classroom curriculum. Right now, they are learning that where you are born and how much money your parents make determine educational opportunity. Nowhere is this clearer -- or more destructive --than in access to effective teachers.Education leaders and policymakers must confront this legacy more openly and honestly than ever before. If Americans truly value equality of opportunity, it is time to teach by example.

Senator Barack Obama said these students don't just score lower on tests, they are less prepared for college and the workplace as well.

What does all of this mean? (in my opinion)If you are poor and dumb chances are you will remain poor and dumborif you are poor and dumb you will get teachers that are poor and dumborthere is a problem with teacher retention and assignment when it comes to minority communities.

New teachers cannot stay new for long. At some point, experience is gained. Then what? Teachers who gain experience move to better situated schools?I believe this report was mean as a wake-up call to those interested in improving public education for poor and minority students--which translates into a better society as those students grow up and take their places in the world.

Saturday, June 10, 2006

GARY--Wrapping up a series of meetings in the area, a representative from Governor Mitch Daniels met with constituents Thursday at the Barbara Leak Wesson Center to hear from the local branch of the NAACP.Tony Kirkland, Senior Advisor, Minority Affairs of the Intergovernmental Affairs Department said it's important that the Governor's office is in touch with the needs of local residents."I wanted to let the members of NAACP know that I am in the office and I want to get some of the Governor's initiatives out. We want to make sure we are being inclusive to minorities. (Business) opportunities do exist and (residents) should take advantage of all of them," he said.Mentioned were the "Major Moves" initiative and the "Indiana Plan".Major Moves is a comprehensive ten-year investment plan in IndianaÂs infrastructure to improve the economy and create job opportunities for Hoosiers. Major Moves eliminates the stateÂs transportation budget deficit and invests in the stateÂs future through public-private partnerships to complete over 200 vital transportation projects.The Indiana Plan is a unique approach to preparing people for careers in the construction industry. The Indiana Plan accepts all people, regardless of educational background, work experience, age, gender or race. Opportunities for good-paying, skilled positions are available for people who are trained for the task. The construction building trades are one of the fastest growing areas of our nation's economy.Specifically, officials were in the area this week talking about some of the programs that involve starting adult day cares and training programs that instruct in the building trades and road work construction.Kirkland found that some qualified business aren't certified as minority or woman owned due to mistrust of big government by minority and woman business owners. Sometimes not registering is due to lack of knowledge. The state wants to protect itself from being scammed by front companies, where businesses are minority or woman owned in name only.In spite of this, to be considered for contracts with local and state government designated for minority and women businesses, those businesses must be registered as such, Kirkland said."They think they will miss out on funds coming to the area. There are problems communicating the (details) of how to operate their own business. Companies need to come to the table prepared," Kirkland said.Money from the state for repairing roads and other infrastructure improvements is in the works. Each county in the state could see up $150 million."Northwest Indiana stands to get money after the Toll Road is leased," Kirkland said.The money may be administrated by local city government, he said. He guessed possibly from $2 to $6 million could be seen in the area, however, "it's not etched in stone". Workforce Development may be a sponsor of a training program where people are trained on completing roadwork and construction jobs.Tammi Davis, president of the NAACP said it's important that information like this gets around."We invited Tony Kirkland to come here so that we can have someone who represents the minority community to the Governor's office. We thought it was time we had a conversation with him--not about anything in particular but in general. We want our voices to be heard and taken seriously all the way downstate," she said. ###

If you've ever heard of the phrase champagne taste on a beer budget, you've found me. I make soap from scratch because regular soap does not agree with my skin, I recreate restaurant meals at home, create appliances I cannot install or afford (yet,) and in general, I figure out a way from no way. I pray a lot too. Join me on my journey. It will be fun.

Everything you see me do is for entertainment purposes only. All of my experiments are for my purposes only. It's fun to watch.

Read an excerpt

Books are cool

Please donate at the Paypal tab below

I realize this blog has evolved into a newspaper archive of sorts--and that is fine--but I spend lots of time searching for this information. While I'm glad you find it useful, please feel free to donate once, if you care. Or buy a radio ad spot for your blog. Or buy one of my books.When I worked, there were a lot fewer entries.Once again, I'm glad my blog helps you with your research. And no, it isn't your fault I got fired;>

William James McCloud III

I hadn't heard anything on the Fourth of July holiday and that was strange. I had the urge to call the day before but since I have a history of being pushy, I let it go.
On the fifth, my birthday, it was my obligation to find out what was going on. It wasn't like Bill to not want to light firecrackers with little Billy on the holiday--it was a yearly debate.
I hoped he wasn't in jail. Illness had not crossed my mind. I thought he was the picture of good health but the things we think can be wrong.
Lauren's Birthday party June 14--the last time we were all together.
He was in the hospital.
William James McCloud III died July 15, 11 days after entering the hospital--after telling his wife Jennifer he wasn't feeling well.
Bill left work early that Wednesday, after consuming an energy drink. Apparently he was having a heart attack. His arteries were blocked.
Bill was only 38 years old. His birthday is next month and his mother tells me a big celebration had been planned.
Bill was my husband. He is the father of my two children. Even though we decided to live separate lives, we still cared for each other. We cared enough to let each other live in peace and stop the fighting. We got along because we wanted to.
Now, he is gone and I feel my former better half has left me alone. When in personal crisis, he was my go-to-guy.
Goodbye, Bill you are loved and I will make you proud and bring honor to your good name.
In Love,
Lauren, Billy and Leslie

Sitewide Disclosure

This policy is valid from 16 June 2008This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact leslie@imadeamesss.com.This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation.The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post may not always be identified as paid or sponsored content.The owner(s) of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.This blog does contain content which might present a conflict of interest. This content may not always be identified.To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org/